LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S.
Reps. Andy Barr and Brett Guthrie are in the running for two committee chair positions that would boost their clout in Congress. First up, though, are their reelection bids to the House Tuesday in Kentucky.
Barr is being challenged by Democrat Randy Cravens in the 6th District, which takes in portions of central and east-central Kentucky. Guthrie is running against Democrat Hank Linderman in the 2nd District, which covers western and central sections of the state. Their reelection campaigns have coincided with their ongoing bids in Washington to lead two House committees.
Barr is vying to chair the House Financial Services Committee. Guthrie is competing to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee. All six members of the state’s U.
S. House delegation — five Republicans and one Democrat — are running for new two-year terms Tuesday. No statewide political offices were up for election this year.
Guthrie and Barr now hold subcommittee chairmanships, which the veteran congressmen hope will be springboards to landing jobs running the full committees. Barr’s congressional career began in 2013 after he defeated a Democratic incumbent. Guthrie was first elected to Congress in 2008.
The Financial Services Committee has broad jurisdiction over the financial sector. The Energy and Commerce Committee wields power over energy, health care, telecommunications and consumer product safety policies. Their bids for the chair positions will hinge on.